Special education classrooms are facing significant challenges, from high turnover rates and shortages to insufficient on-the-job development for new teachers. These issues make effective IEP team collaboration more critical than ever.
At Mela Mela, we believe the best ideas come from collaboration. Teachers—who know their needs best—are at the heart of that process. That’s why we created the Mela Mela Innovation Lab.
Together, through creative problem solving, we aim to co-create solutions with special education professionals that build collaboration and work seamlessly in classrooms.
The Mela Mela Innovation Lab brings special education teachers, IEP teams, and school districts together with our team of designers, engineers, and experts in operations and special education. Through creative problem-solving workshops, focus groups, in-classroom side-by-sides, and design thinking sessions, these teams collaborate to co-create personalized solutions that enhance classroom collaboration.
Together we discover the “how” for better classroom collaboration.
Are you ready?
If so, its go time.
Now accepting applications for Summer/Fall 2025 cohort.
Our pilot series provides a unique opportunity for school districts to co-create solutions with our dedicated team of experts. By adopting a design-driven approach, districts can transform their IEP team collaboration processes, addressing challenges related to teacher burnout, administrative overload, and student outcomes.
BENEFITS
OUR APPROACH
The Mela Mela Innovation Lab pilot consists of three iterative phases over the course of 4-12 weeks designed to enhance IEP team collaboration and streamline instructional processes.
Discovery
In the Discovery Phase, the Mela Mela team will conduct interviews, observations, and document reviews to map out current IEP collaboration processes. This phase focuses on understanding workflows from the perspectives of teachers, students, parents, and administrators. Deliverables will include flowcharts of current processes that highlight pain points and data-driven insights on their impact on instructional efficiency. The duration of this phase will range from 1 to 3 weeks.
Testing
The Testing Phase involves the implementation of the Mela Mela Workspace App in pilot classrooms. Teachers and paraprofessionals will receive comprehensive training and ongoing support to ensure effective usage of the app. The Mela Mela team will conduct in-person sessions to observe classroom dynamics and gather real-time feedback on the app’s effectiveness. This phase will last between 2 to 6 weeks and will yield a fully deployed app and a mid-pilot report detailing initial engagement and user satisfaction.
Redesign
During the Redesign Phase, the Mela Mela team will lead a collaborative workshop with pilot participants to evaluate the app’s performance against identified pain points. Participants will brainstorm potential modifications and new features to better meet their needs. This iterative process will result in a reimagined prototype of the Mela Mela Workspace App, reflecting the feedback collected during the pilot. The duration of this phase will range from 1 to 3 weeks, culminating in a comprehensive report summarizing findings and recommendations for future enhancements.
REQUIREMENTS
Minimum of 3 teachers across all phases
Minimum of 1-2 other IEP team members (e.g., paraprofessionals) during the Testing Phase
Consistent use of the Mela Mela Workspace App during the Testing Phase; each participating teacher must use the Mela Mela app to manage the IEP instruction of 3 students across various instructional settings